Kyushu 2021 discussion

[Amamaniac 2,079]

1 hour ago, RabidJohn said:

Choking? Mitakeumi? I beg to differ!

No rikishi with 2 yusho to their name without being ozeki is a choker, And one of his yusho was a play-off win, which I imagine must be as high pressure as it gets.

He didn't choke.

 

1 minute ago, Joaoiyama said:

Mitakeumi is no choker, he is an early starter who sometimes runs out of steam.

OK, I surrender.  Poor choice of words on my part.  I was merely trying to point out that he gets fans like me excited, and then ends up disappointing them with losses against opponents that he could and should easily beat... 

FYI, Wiki (I know, not the best authority) describes choking as follows:

In sports, choking is the failure of a person, or persons, to act or behave as anticipated or expected.  This can occur in a game or tournament that they are strongly favoured to win, or in an instance where they have a large lead that they squander in the late stages of the event. It can also refer to repeated failures in the same event, or simply imply an unexpected failure when the event is more important than usual.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Less of a choker, more just someone whose food goes down the wrong way sometimes. 

[Yamanashi 3,904]

3 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Agree... mostly. Becoming an ozeki is about grouping ones shots. Theoretically you could win three yusho a year, but if they were interspersed with 7-8s you ain't going nowhere. BTW Mitakeumi is now in a clear lead in the race for "Most wins in a year by a wrestler who isn't called Terunofuji", two clear of Ichinojo and Shodai.

To hark back to a previous post, if there is to be an upset winner from the "below ozeki" contingent, I think we may have to look way down the banzuke. Abi and Hokutofuji have been doing exactly what we would expect them to do at their rank. I would be surprised if one of them isn't in contention going into the final weekend.

ce

I agree with both @Tigerboy1966 and @RabidJohn.  Mitakeumi is clearly near the top of this generation's rikishi: if he goes 7-8 this basho he will guarantee that more than 50% of his basho have been in Sanyaku.  He is also "inconsistent", but he's earned KK 28 out of 38 basho as a sekitori.  So, he's not "Maegashira inconsistent".  As the post above says, "becoming an Ozeki is about grouping one's shots" and he hasn't put 33 together in 3 straight basho.  However, his average wins/basho since becoming K1e in 2016 is 8.66 with a S.D. of 1.62; that's maintenance Ozeki mode.  Current Ozeki Shodai is 7-8 9-6 8-7 8-7 since his rank-saving JY.  Since Takakeisho regained his rank, he's averaged 8.45 with a S.D. of 3.75.

So, who's been the better Ozeki, on average?  The Sekiwake, of course.

[Katooshu 3,334]

Mitakeumi is highly consistent across basho; he wouldn't have spent such a great amount of time consecutively at K/S if he weren't. I find it remarkable, because even very good rikishi can have a 5-10 tournament every now and then. I think his sumo is similar, in that he's strong in most areas, but not really great at anything.

So he can keep putting up these 8-9 win tournaments due to being a complete competitor without many weaknesses to exploit, but he also doesn't have a super Saiyan mode to overwhelm opponents to the extent needed for ozeki promotion. Whereas in Takakeisho I see a fierce wrecking ball when he's on his game, Asanoyama can throw guys left and right across the dohyo like they weigh nothing, etc. Even Shodai, as a weaker ozeki, I think can draw upon a raw strength that Mitakeumi lacks.

That said, despite the never ending K/S going on for 4-5 years now, I still consider him a good ozeki contender, because he's in a range where even just a couple more wins across 2-3 tournaments could do it (which is more than you can say about most), and he has put in double digits 6 times in the joi/sanyaku range.

Edited November 17, 2021 by Katooshu

[jsolo 106]

November Kyushu Basho--Links and Statistics Blos--Day 3

Results, standings, match articles, photos, videos, kimarite staistics, time of match statistics, Top Rank performance, Maegashira v san'yaku, Juryo substitute performance, and more

Nice JSA videos of Teru, Tamawashi, Ura, and Abi matches today.

Enjoy

November Basho Day 3 Links and Statistics blog

 

[Hakuhonofan 334]

My personal observation of Mitakeumi so far, he only fought fiercely when there were a bunch of kenshos involved. 

Edited November 17, 2021 by Hakuhonofan

[Katsunorifuji 65]

I missed the day one matches and just realized today (day 3) that there was no Tochinoshin. Sad to think that this might be the end of his sumo career and I didn’t even catch the announcement the he was out for the basho. Kind of like sleeping through the moon landing. 
 

I know someone else mentioned this earlier, but with Hokutofuji so far down in the ranks I would not be surprised to see him competing for the yusho, especially if Terunofuji and the Ozeki pick each other off in the last few days.  

[Eikokurai 3,437]

42 minutes ago, Katsunorifuji said:

Kind of like sleeping through the moon landing. 

I’m sure even Tochinoshin himself would say that comparison is a touch hyperbolic! 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

43 minutes ago, Katsunorifuji said:

I know someone else mentioned this earlier, but with Hokutofuji so far down in the ranks I would not be surprised to see him competing for the yusho, especially if Terunofuji and the Ozeki pick each other off in the last few days.  

He and Abi both should be hitting double-digits at a minimum this time around.

(Sorry for the double reply–I fired off my first one before I decided to reply to this part too.)

[yohcun 401]

Kazakh Sd100 Kinbozan now 2-0. Not much of a bow going on.

 

[Tigerboy1966 1,474]

3 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

3 hours ago, Katsunorifuji said:

I know someone else mentioned this earlier, but with Hokutofuji so far down in the ranks I would not be surprised to see him competing for the yusho, especially if Terunofuji and the Ozeki pick each other off in the last few days.  

He and Abi both should be hitting double-digits at a minimum this time around.

(Sorry for the double reply–I fired off my first one before I decided to reply to this part too.)

Both have been looking dominant. Abi is doing less circling and more driving straight forward. It's a more aggressive style and it suits him.

As todays maku'uchi gets under way... Isn't it nice when you can call the kimarite half way through a bout? As soon as Akua got the right outside grip on Shohozan's belt I was thinking uwatenage. If I had been watching with another human being, rather than my cat, I would have engaged smug mode.

[Tigerboy1966 1,474]

Takayasu's on now... anyone fancy a pint?

[Kaninoyama 1,818]

If long-distance sumo was a sport, Takayasu would be the GOAT. 

[Eikokurai 3,437]

It’s far too early to be making pronouncements, but after four days things are heading in a nice direction with the Yokozuna and one Ozeki perfect, the second Ozeki only one behind, a former Ozeki also one behind, and our favorite perennial Sekiwake and two former sanyaku/joi regulars in Hokutofuji and Abi also still at 4-0 while fighting well below their natural ranks. It’s shaping up just lovely.

Edited November 17, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Slim Shady ... Tochinoshin is back tomorrow!  He will be attempting to get his kachikoshi (to avoid further demotion), which means a minimum of 8 wins in 11 bouts (i.e., 72.7% win performance). Normally a KK only requires a 53.3% win performance.  Recently demoted Ozeki have to produce a 66.6% win performance (minimum 10 wins in 15 bouts) to get reinstated.  And as most fans here know, that's something which Tochinoshin pulled off in May 2019.  

8 wins here, however, is a bigger ask. 

Will our man from Georgia pull it off?  If he does, that should generate some added enthusiasm in this tournament!

Spoiler

At least, he won't have to deal with Asanoyama and questionable monoii decisions!!!

 

[Akinomaki 40,791]

10 hours ago, Kaninoyama said:

 I'm bullish on Abi. He fell down the ranks due to suspension, not injury, and before that he was a Joi mainstay with Sanyaku experience. 

In recent interviews, he's expressed regret over his actions and a new sense of gratitude for being able to mount the dohyo. On top of that, he is a new father and appears ready to take his life and sumo career seriously--something he didn't always do.

In addition, he's clearly a heftier version of himself than before his suspension. 

I expect he'll be soon knocking on Sanyaku's door again within a few basho, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he one day made Ozeki. 

I'm all for Abi for quite a while, anyone who fights back after the bureaucracy smashed him down has my support, at least as much as those who fight back from injury.

On 06/07/2021 at 05:55, Akinomaki said:

Abi on the way to YTNOBAWO (yes, the next ozeki, but after which other).

 Unfortunately he's not on the makujiri spot that is predestined for the yusho, but I have still hopes he'll be in the yusho race till the end.

[RabidJohn 1,855]

Even taking into account his sub-optimal rank, Abi looks bigger, meaner and more serious.
I know we're all desperate for some narrative, but ozeki talk already? I'm certain he's headed back to sanyaku, but I'm gonna wait to see how he does there before giving him the TNO tag.

Endo looked really dazed after getting faceplanted by Hoshoryu. Wouldn't be surprised if he's kyujo with concussion tomorrow. Wouldn't be surprised if he continues despite the concussion, either...

What did Konosuke mutter that got the crowd talking during today's Takayasu snoozefest? It was right after he'd shouted 'Hakke yoi' for the umpteenth time. I got the impression he was finding it tedious.

Mitakeumi's teasing us again, but don't fall for it.

I like how everyone is making the yokozuna work for his wins, and I like that he keeps winning. Very entertaining.

[Mightyduck 67]

Down in juryo it's nice to see kotoshoho looking a bit more like his old self.

Abi looks way more in control of his charge than he used to. Whether he'll be able to maintain that control when he fights opponents further up the banzuke remains to be seen, but if he can he's a potential yusho contender. 

Whilst he has dropped one, it is good to see that Shodai seems to have recovered his forward driving power. 

[Morty 1,505]

2 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

It’s far too early to be making pronouncements, but after four days things are heading in a nice direction with the Yokozuna and one Ozeki perfect, the second Ozeki only one behind, a former Ozeki also one behind, and our favorite perennial Sekiwake and two former sanyaku/joi regulars in Hokutofuji and Abi also still at 4-0 while fighting well below their natural ranks. It’s shaping up just lovely.

It is a great novelty to have no kadoban ozeki, everyone healthy, no spectre of the GOAT looming over everyone, and most of the sanyaku with positive wins or in the yusho hunt. I'm enjoying this .

[since_94 650]

In Juryo, Enho vs Yago had everything: a 100 kg weight differential, a fine display of escape artistry by the smaller man, and an acrobatic finish. We are entertained.

It may have been said already, but Kyokutaisei’s gimp left leg is toast. Not as evident today, but he hasn’t been able to plant it this basho, let alone generate any power with it. It will be surprising if he doesn't pull out.

Daishoho goes gyoji-bowling with Churanoumi. Thought he threw a strike, but a last minute dodge left him with a spare.

Wakamotoharu vs Kaisho. OUCH.

Among the big dogs, Shimanoumi vs Takayasu was yet another marathon, featuring what looked to be damn near a wardrobe malfunction. It went so long, the judges were motioning for a water break, but the gyoji was too focused on the rikishi to see it. I’m sure I’m not alone in that my greatest fear was Takayasu would get on the belt and we would be forced to see something that could not ever be unseen. He got the belt, but we were spared, mercifully.

After that faceplant courtesy of Hoshoryu, you can be sure Endo couldn’t tell you what day it is or what city he’s in.

Mitakeumi looking strong at 4-0, but we all know that means nothing…

The Yokozuna has his old scowl face on. Looks like someone who wants to do bloody murder before a match, or at least would not mind if he had to. The predictable results follow.

[since_94 650]

On 16/11/2021 at 10:57, Katooshu said:

Speaking of Tsurugisho, I notice that this basho he joined the 200kg+ club......I must say he wears it pretty well, especially considering he's 'only' 182cm

Rikishi get my respect when they break 200. The lower division guys go on my "ones to watch' list.

[lackmaker 438]

14 hours ago, Amamaniac said:

But, I'm definitely not ruling Takakeisho out (especially if he is back in form).  Today he showed why he is so dangerous, sending upstart Kiribayama to the dirt with that strong left swipe of his!  Absolutely deadly, that is!

And another left swipe does the job.

[Rocks 1,809]

1 hour ago, Morty said:

It is a great novelty to have no kadoban ozeki, everyone healthy, no spectre of the GOAT looming over everyone, and most of the sanyaku with positive wins or in the yusho hunt. I'm enjoying this .

I would agree. It's good too see things going "as they should" per rank. Seems like it's been a while for that. 

Biggest shocker to me is Sadanoumi. I thought he would do poorly but he somehow looks heavier and more solid this basho. Even more than the last. 

[rokudenashi 324]

A comment regarding the performances of Takatōriki's sons today. In Makushita, Mudōhō at the very least deserved a mono-ii in his match, and it looked pretty clear to me that the side of Kotoshōhō's foot was out before Ōhō planted his own down - yet the shinpan reversed the call. No he didn't, I misheard the judge

I wonder if we will see this pattern of unfavourable decisions against them continue as Takatōriki shows no signs of letting up in his anti-NSK crusade.
Tin foil hat off for now!!

Edited November 17, 2021 by rokudenashi

[Amamaniac 2,079]

4 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

our favorite perennial Sekiwake

Over at Nikkan Sports, they are called Mita "the sleeping Ozeki candidate" (nemureru ōzeki kōho).

I suppose the choice of names has something to do with the "glass half empty/glass half full" debate!